After getting eliminated by the two-time NBA champion Miami Heat, the Brooklyn Nets will head into the off-season with drastic changes potentially on the horizon.
Perhaps the biggest question marks for the Nets this summer will be the immediate futures of Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. Both players will consider their options this summer with Garnett possibly headed for retirement and Pierce potentially headed to the Western Conference.
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If Garnett does retire, Pierce could consider heading to Los Angeles. Landing with the Los Angeles Clippers could be his most likely destination with a chance to contend for a title while reuniting with head coach Doc Rivers, but the Lakers will also be an option, according to ESPN’s Marc Stein:
Pierce could also elect to return to Boston as a free agent to set himself up to retire a Celtic, or maybe even sample life back home as a Laker, or pick out another one of the many teams bound to be interested in his veteran know-how. Count on Pierce generating plenty of July buzz no matter what happens with his older buddy.
As for Garnett, the one-time NBA champion is set to earn $12 million next season with the Nets. It is hard to see Garnett leaving that much on the table in order retire, but it remains a possibility moving forward.
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If Garnett does retire, Pierce will become an intriguing option for title contenders around the league this summer. The Lakers may be far from a contender at this point in time, but the team making a few moves in free agency or through trades could quickly change that fact.
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